Question about gestational diabetes

[joanneg20]

I have a family history of diabetes (my father is diabetic - developed in middle age). I'm currently 24 weeks pregnant, and wondered if this meant I would automatically be given a Glucose Tolerance Test to screen for GD? No-one has mentioned to me at any point that I will have to have this, so I assume I won't unless sugar is found in my urine. But then I read on another thread here that someone was automatically tested because of a family history. Does anyone know what the procedure is?

Thanks.

[B52s]

I only had a GTT after I showed '+++' levels in my wee twice running. It involved blood being taken at my hosp after no breakfast, then given a nasty sugary drink, then more blood taken half an hour later. Mine turned out to be the Rice Cripsy Squares I ate before I provided the wee sample and not GD. If you are worried I would mention it to the midwife at least, and make sure she writes it in your notes.

[joanneg20]

Thanks B52s. Hospital knows I have a father with diabetes, and have never mentioned that I would need a GTT. So I was just wondering if anyone knew what screening 'guidelines' were?

[DawnAS]

Joanneg20,

You will definitely have to have a GTT. My Mum was diagnosed with type 2 Diabetes at the age of 55 and because of that four of us daughters have had to have the GTT.

I had mine last Thursday (28w +1d) and unfortunately mine was positive.

So I've got my first clinic on Thursday where I need to start the insulin injections - eek... But, as long as they've caught it early, my little girl will be fine I'm sure and it will stop after I've had her.

The GTT itself is fine. The drink is very sweet and a bit sickly, but gulp it as quickly as you can, pausing to sip water if you need to and it'll be over and done with in a couple of minutes.

None of my sisters got a positive result and I am the fittest, thinnest and have the healthiest diet of them all, makes me wonder why we bother!! Oh well, only 12 weeks to go!!

xxx

[DawnAS]

Hi again,

Sorry, I didn't read your question about the procedure...

Basically, you need to fast from 10pm the night before the test and they normally test at 9am. So, you can have water but that's it.

9am they will do a blood test (some people have the finger-prick test but I had a normal needle blood-test). You then have to drink a very sweet glucose drink within 10 minutes (some hospitals give you a 5 minute limit to drink it I think...). You then have to sit in the hospital WITHOUT WALKING AROUND (they don't want you burning it off...) for 2 hours. Make sure you take a book - it gets very boring... Then they will take another blood test and that's it. The results are usually ready the next day.

Hope this helps, it's very straight forward, nothing to worry about at all!! Make sure you take a snack with you though for after you've had the final blood-test done as you will be starving by then.

xxx